Sound-controller



' W. A. .SOMMERHOF.

SOUND CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1919.

1,327, 1 1 8, Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

V v F, 'J V 2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

, Z v 13' '21. 2174 24' a} WILLIAM A. SOMMERHO F, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOUND-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 19.20.

Application filed May 8, 1919. Serial No. 295,683.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. SoMMnR- nor, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Sound-Controller, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sound controllers for use in connection with phonographs.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a sound controller that can be applied to all makes of phonographs and which, though made of straight panels, will conceal the interior of the sound chamber or amplifier and, at the same time, allow a uniform dispersement of the sound waves, thereby to thoroughly blend the loud and the feeble sounds and produce a volume of sound that is uniform throughout the area of the outlet.

Another object is to simplify and otherwise improve the structure and to provide a dust proof closure void of ledges or the like on which dust can accumulate.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a transverse section through a portion of a phonograph cabinet and showing the sound controller in rear elevation.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the controller.

F ig. 4 is a section on line 4.4c, Fig. 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a portion of the casing of a phonograph the sound chamber or amplifier 2 of which has an outlet opening 3 surrounded by a flange l. A rabbet 5 is formed along the inner surfaces of the flanges at the opening 3 and has a lining 6 of felt or the like. Extending backwardly within the chamber 2 above and below the opening 3 are guides 7 preferably substantially triangular, as shown, and provided with parallel ribs 8 extending at right angles to the front of the casing.

A bracket 9 is provided in the chamber 2 at each side of the opening 3 and pivotally connected to the upper and lower ends of each bracket are the upper and lower members of a frame 10 connected by a cross or connecting strip 11. A tongue 12 extends from one of these strips 11 and has a pin 13 extending therefrom and slidably mounted in a slot 14: formed longitudinally within another tongue 15 extending from the other strip 11.

Mounted between the guides 7 is a middle panel 16 having notches 17 in its upper and lower ends into which the central ribs 8 project. A pair of brackets 18 is connected to the back of the panel at the upper portion thereof and another pair at the lower por tion thereof and these brackets are connected by links 19 to the strips 10 of the respective frames. A knob 20 may be connected to the front of the panel 1%; and by means thereof said panel may be pushed back from the opening 3 or pulled forwardly to the opening, the two frames 1110 swing ing simultaneously and the tongues 12 and 15 and the links 19 all cooperating to maintain the panel in a plane parallel with the plane of the opening 3. v

Arranged at each side of the panel 16 are intermediate panels 21 each having end notches adapted to, receive the adjacent guide ribs 8. Blocks 22 are fixedly connected to the backs of these panels 21 and are connected by a cross strip 23 whereby the two panels will move back and forth as one body. Brackets 24 are secured to the back of each panel 21 and are connected to the strips 10 by links 25.

Side panels 26 are arranged between the guides 7 so as to slide on the end ribs 8 and blocks 27 are secured to the back faces of these panels and connected by a cross strip 28 whereby the two end panels will move back and forth as one body. Links 29 connect the strips 10 with brackets 30 secured to the panels 26.

The front face of the middle panel 16 is formed with rabbets at the sides thereof, as 7 shown at 31 and these reduced sides of the panel 16 are adapted, when the panels are moved forward to close the opening 3, to move into rabbets 32 formed in the backs of the panels 21 and which are provided with formed in the backs of the panels 26 and provided with soft linings 86.

The parts are so situated and adjusted that, when the middle panel is pulled forward by means of the knob 20, it will pull, through the links 19, upon the coupled frames 1011 which, in turn will thrust through the links 25 and 29, against the panels 21 and 26, causing the panels all to move against the back surface of the casing wall in which the opening 3 is situated, thus to close the opening, the said panels all coming simultaneously into line with their rabbeted edges lapping and contacting. By pushing back on the knob 20 the movement is reversed and the panels will move apart as they travel inwardly on their guides. As the side portions of the panels lap, they will conceal the interior of the chamber 2, and by varying the sizes of the openings between the panels the volume of sound escaping from said chamber can be controlled. The front faces of the panels, when closed are flush, leaving no ledges on which dust can accumulate.

Instead of depending on the knob 20 as a means for actuating the panels, a stem 37 may be journaled in one wall of the casing 1 and provided with a crank arm 38 extendingloosely into an opening 39 formed in a bracket 40 fastened to one of the strips 10. A handle or arm 41 is provided at the outer end of the stem and by means thereof the stem can be rotated so as to cause the arm 38 to swing the strip 10 forwardly or rearwardly and thus cause a corresponding movement of all of said strips 10 as well as of the panels.

What is claimed is The combination with a casing having an opening and spaced guides including parallel ribs, of separate panels having notched ends slidably engaging the ribs, a central panel, means extending back of the central panel for connecting corresponding panels at opposite sides thereof, opposed frames mounted for swinging movement, a pivotal and slidable connection between the frames, and link connections between the panels and the frames.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. SQMMEEHOF.

Vfitnesses:

WM. R. FERGUSON, ALBERT SoMMnRHoF. 

